Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan have agreed to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan. The announcement came during the Sixth Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue in Kabul on August 20. The meeting was attended by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
The extension of CPEC aims to boost trade, transit, and development opportunities for Afghanistan. The ministers stressed that the project would connect Afghanistan more closely with regional markets. Besides trade, they pledged stronger cooperation in counter-terrorism, drug control, health, education, culture, and regional connectivity.
During the talks, Ishaq Dar urged Afghanistan to take “concrete and verifiable” action against terrorist groups launching attacks from its soil. He mentioned concerns about the rise in attacks by groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade. In response, Muttaqi assured that Afghan soil would not be used against Pakistan or other countries.
The ministers also welcomed the upgrade of diplomatic relations from chargé d’affaires to ambassador level, a decision made in May in Beijing. They reviewed progress from previous visits and noted that most agreements were either implemented or close to completion.
Finally, Dar thanked the Afghan government for its hospitality and congratulated Kabul on successfully hosting the trilateral dialogue. The meeting reaffirmed the three countries’ commitment to peace, development, and regional prosperity.